one reason we are in the fiscal cliff is because a deal was made in the summer of 2011. for the sequester and all of that. on the assumption, an assumption that republicans would win and wouldn't be an issue. if you look at the broadest vision of this, this is a race that republicans should have won. but i agree. the primary process, 20 debates that degraded and hurt the brand. not the best set of candidates. did not put shining good light on the party. certainly hurt the brand. that was a race that should have been won and wasn't. a lot of tactical and strategic errors. >> doug: 15 seconds. >> the most important moment of the 2012 race from the republican side came before a vote was cast, before much money was raised. that was the series of potentially good candidates who didn't end up running, whether john thune or jeb bush or mitch daniels or ryan or rubio. group of candidates that might have been able to carry a stronger message without being burdened by what nina is speaking about. >> doug: that is it for the panel. stave tuned to see one awesome, truly awesome grad